MovieChat Forums > Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) Discussion > IMDB is going to shut down the forums. R...

IMDB is going to shut down the forums. RIP

posted 8 years ago by rereboy-903-525228
43 replies | jump to latest

IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. As part of our ongoing effort to continually evaluate and enhance the customer experience on IMDb, we have decided to disable IMDb’s message boards on February 20, 2017. This includes the Private Message system. After in-depth discussion and examination, we have concluded that IMDb’s message boards are no longer providing a positive, useful experience for the vast majority of our more than 250 million monthly users worldwide. The decision to retire a long-standing feature was made only after careful consideration and was based on data and traffic.

Increasingly, IMDb customers have migrated to IMDb’s social media accounts as the primary place they choose to post comments and communicate with IMDb’s editors and one another. IMDb’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/imdb) and official Twitter account (https://twitter.com/imdb) have an audience of more than 10 million engaged fans. IMDb also maintains official accounts on Snapchat (https://www.snapchat.com/add/imdblive), Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/imdbofficial/), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/imdb), and Tumblr (http://imdb.tumblr.com/).

Because IMDb’s message boards continue to be utilized by a small but passionate community of IMDb users, we announced our decision to disable our message boards on February 3, 2017 but will leave them open for two additional weeks so that users will have ample time to archive any message board content they’d like to keep for personal use. During this two-week transition period, which concludes on February 19, 2017, IMDb message board users can exchange contact information with any other board users they would like to remain in communication with (since once we shut down the IMDb message boards, users will no longer be able to send personal messages to one another). We regret any disappointment or frustration IMDb message board users may experience as a result of this decision.

IMDb is passionately committed to providing innovative ways for our hundreds of millions of users to engage and communicate with one another. We will continue to enhance our current offerings and launch new features in 2017 and beyond that will help our customers communicate and express themselves in meaningful ways while leveraging emerging technologies and opportunities.

http://www.imdb.com/board/announcement

[–] Angel_Angelus 8 years ago

I just saw that announcement myself. That's pretty shocking.

That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, bingo!

[–] rereboy-903-525228 8 years ago

Let's take a moment to thank to all the trolls out there in the forums. As someone said, "that's why we can't have nice things".

[–] sakura_droplet 8 years ago

Let's take a moment to thank to all the trolls out there in the forums. As someone said, "that's why we can't have nice things".

I have to agree. I mean, it is a shock and I have definitely had some good interactions discussing the ins and outs of various pieces of media and finding the latest news on new releases, like so many parts of the internet involving discussion the IMDb forums, as a whole, have been affected. Some of the boards I'm a regular on are a Goddamn mess and my Ignore list is huge.

Bit of a double edged sword, for me.

Just a Jeannie in a bottle...

[–] shigui 8 years ago

I released all mine on ignore back into the wild.

Not everything has to mean something. Some things just are. Charles de Lint

[–] DebLovesBeccy 8 years ago

like so many parts of the internet involving discussion the IMDb forums, as a whole, have been affected. Some of the boards I'm a regular on are a Goddamn mess and my Ignore list is huge.

I know exactly what you mean and I stopped writing on most of the Superhero movie boards late last year 'cause they got overran by extreme DC and Marvel fans who were always fighting with each other and having goes at people for liking or not liking their favourite movie and I just quit writing on the 'Supergirl' forum 'cause that has become a paradise for sexist pigs and homophobes. I will miss the IMDB boards 'cause I have met a lot of good members on here and had some great times with them but there are too many trolls to keep it open unless they are going to hire a full time Admin and moderators.

_____________________________

Currently blocking Cyber Bullies, Cyber Stalkers, Trolls, Homophobes, Sexist Pigs and Racists. If you are going to send me abusive private messages about being Bisexual use your real profile and not a sock account you haven't used for months.

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[–] macpro75 8 years ago

A_A ~  This is largely a cut-and-paste....

I've been CRAZY busy and wishing for time to revisit my friends -- and this ?!? 

It's the Uber-suck! 

During the show, I used to post on www.bronzebeta.com It's a message board rather than threaded. However, you could always find a cool discussion. A search using CTRL F can help you find posts directed to you (or others) or regarding things you enjoy. It's been slow lately but if enough of the Buffy board IMDb meets over there, we might be able to continue in a similar matter, if we try.

All topics are discussed but the board is moderated IIRC. All the characters, actors, cast, crew, writers, etc are highlighted in colours (again IIRC). Members of those VIP groups can get a special colour once they're verified. There's a history where you can review old posts by them and they are also archived online. Joss always forgot (forgets?) his sign in -- too funny!

Oddly, the website started to die when it started on Facebook. Funny that, huh? Maybe we can add a new dimension. 

I post(ed) there as ...... macpro75 ....... because I'm so very original!

 I think I will post this as it's own thread so perhaps some of us can meet up there and continue our discussions.... What do you think? In the meantime, pass the word if you think it's a good idea or at least worth trying.

A_A ~ Thanks for all the help and laughs over the years. I hope to be able to still enjoy your rapier-sharp wit. 

"It's a real burden being right so often." Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Firefly

[–] Angel_Angelus 8 years ago

Thanks macpro75, although I can't seem to find a way to sign up to the board.

That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, bingo!

[–] macpro75 8 years ago

Hey A_A! IIRC, there is no specific "sign up". I just checked and all you need to do is come up with a name or moniker and type it into the "Name or Alias" portion of a post, followed by : and your password, no spaces. Example:

My Bronze posting name:mybronzepassword

If the name isn't used by someone else, it's now yours. The password makes it your own. You only use an email address if you want it publicly listed with your post.

I haven't posted there in a while so I'll try to leave a message to you. if you get this late you may have to page back to look for it.

The moderators can see the passwords, so I think they ask that you use a password that is only for that board. The board's been up since Buffy was on so there was never a difficult sign up process. Here's what the board FAQ's say:

As a new feature we now allow you to register your screen name so that no one else is allowed to post using your identity. In order to do so all you have to do is follow your user name with a colon (':') and your password. For example --> Name:Password. The first time you enter your password it will be saved in the system and the board will not allow any more posts with that user name unless the password is specified. Please keep this in mind. This means every post from this point on using this name must have a password assigned. Other notes, if your screen name goes unused for more than 180 days the registration will be removed and anyone is free to use that name at that time. Additionally, your name and password combination must be less than 40 characters in total. And last but certainly not least. Please keep in mind your password is entered, transmitted, and stored in plain text. Please make sure you select a reasonable secure password but DO NOT use a password you are using for other secure passwords. I do not want you bank passwords, PINS, Social security numbers. We have the ability to see all these passwords so don't give us anything compromising. Also user names passwords are all case sensitive. Of course since the colon is now used as a delimited it can no longer be used as part of your name. Users can still post anonymously without passwords assuming they are using a name that has not been previously reserved.

"It's a real burden being right so often." Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Firefly

[–] Rules-Rule 8 years ago

I'm very sad. I get so much news here

[–] PreachCaleb 8 years ago

we have concluded that IMDb’s message boards are no longer providing a positive, useful experience for the vast majority of our more than 250 million monthly users worldwide.



Have they been to Facebook? It's all vile vitriol. Heck, one of the main reasons I enjoyed IMDB was because it wasn't Facebook.

In any case, that's a real shame. I'm gonna miss a lot of you guys out there. The Buffy boards have always been one of my favorites to post on.

Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.

[–] Angel_Angelus 8 years ago

It's been a pleasure over the years, PreachCaleb!

That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, bingo!

[–] PreachCaleb 8 years ago



Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.

[–] Nike316 8 years ago

Have they been to Facebook? It's all vile vitriol. Heck, one of the main reasons I enjoyed IMDB was because it wasn't Facebook.

Agreed. IMDb has some bad apples too, but it's much cleaner than sites like facebook, youtube, twitter, or whatever. I can't stand the people on those sites.

[–] snoho 8 years ago



[–] KaidtheShiz 8 years ago

I know I just saw. I think it's kind of a weird thing to do. I am more a lurker but I am going to miss these boards.

[–] Kain_Templeman 8 years ago

Man this is crazy.

[–] userrrrr 8 years ago

See ya everybody! I haven't really posted here on this account, but years ago I used to post as versionfiv and caligulasremains for years.

🐙

[–] poem 8 years ago

I dont have the *slightest* clue why any of these sites would even *remotely* replace a real forum; none of them have a compareable functionality. I also avoid them religiously. Also eBay and Amazon.

The reason why I like forums is exactly that I can ask questions to the general public and *anybody* interested might answer. In fact I have a very good chance to get somebody who knows an answer because they first had to go through the trouble of reading exactly this forum in the first place.

I utterly fail how "a more personal connection" would replace this functionality in any way. It just doesnt. At all. Ever.

I guess we could remove all these artist subforums because theres only "she's pretty" and "she's not pretty" threads in there anyway.

Or places like politics, religion, even science, photography, those hardly ever bis absolutely never have good content.

But the real deals ? The shows and movies ? They've been really useful and helpful.

Also, the BtVS subforum was kind of my home in the internet. I will certainly miss it.

---
A gentleman will not insult me, and no man not a gentleman can insult me.

[–] Karl_Wolfgang_47 8 years ago

Message boards are the main reason why I visit this site. Although this board is the most important forum to me, I read other boards as well almost every day. If I want to know something about a movie I will always check out its message board first.

If they would shut down the entire IMDb, I couldn't care less. I have zero interest for IMDb without message boards.

[–] leftykittykat 8 years ago

Same here. I often go to this site after I watch something just to see what other people think and to read the discussions. I rarely post, but I do visit the message boards very often. Going to miss it.